JUDGES SURVEY NOTES

 

God was king.  Judges served God in saving the people.

Author: Probably, Samuel

Period covered: About 318 years from around BC 1375)

Key Phrase: “The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.” (2:11; 3:7; 3:12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1)

Chap

Key Words

Outline

 

1:

Introduction

Introduction:  Canaanites not driven out.

 

 

1.   Judah & Simeon’s success (1:1-20).

 

 

2.   Failure of other tribes (1:21-36).

2:

Unfaithful

3.   Cause of their problems (2:1--3:6).

 

 

a. Angel of Jehovah reproves them (2:1-5)

 

 

b. After Joshua an unfaithful new generation (2:6-15)

 

 

c. After each judge, apostasy (2:16-23). 

3:

 

d. So, Jehovah left the nations to prove them.(3:1-6)

 

 

 

A.   Mesopotamian king, Cushan-rishathaim (“Double Wicked”)

 

 

Ruled 8 years. (3:7-8)

 

#1. Othniel

Othniel, Caleb’s son-in-law, Defeated him and Judged 40 years (3:9-11).

 

 

 

B.    Moabite King, Eglon (fat) plus, Ammon and Amalek

 

 

Ruled 18 years (3:12-14)

 

#2. Ehud

Ehud (Left handed son of Gera the Benjamite)

 

 

Killed Eglon in his chamber with dagger.

 

 

Land rested 80 years  (3:15-30)

 

 

 

C.    Philistines (in south-west) (3:31)

 

#3.Shamgar

 Shamgar defeats them (killed 600 with ox goad) 

 

 

 Judged 31 years

 

4:

 

D.   Canaanite king, Jabin, of Hazor (in the north).

 

 

Ruled 20 years (4:1-3)

 

#4.Deborah

& Barak

Deborah, prophetess of Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Naphtali, Zebulon, Isaachar) (4:4--5:31)

 

 

She called for Barak’s help. (4:6)

 

 

He would go if she would go with him (4:8)

 

 

Sisera, captain, 900 iron chariots mired on plain.

 

 

Killed by Jael, wife of Heber, with tent peg     

5:

Song

 Song of victory by Deborah and Barak (5:1-31)

 

 

Land had rest 40 years.

 

6:

 

E.    Midianites (descendants of Abraham and Keturah)

 

 

From East of Jordan, With Amalekites,

 

 

Rule 7 years. (6:1-6)

 

 

Grain stolen.  People hide in caves.

 

#5. Gideon

Gideon (of Manasseh) called by Angel (6:7-18)

 

 

Called from threshing wheat in wine-press.

 

 

Offering burned by angel as a sign.(6:19-23)

 

 

Altar built. (6:24)

 

 

Baal and Asherah destroyed. (6:25-32)

 

 

Abiezer, Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, Naphtali called

 

 

Fleece (6:36-40)

7:

300

300 chosen from 32,000 at spring of Harod. (7:1-8)

 

 

Midianite barley cake dream about tent.(7:9-14)

 

 

Mid. defeated with pitchers and torches.(7:15-25)

 

 

“Sword of Lord and of Gideon”

8:

Pursuit

Ephraimites offended. (8:1-3) 

 

 

Cities, Succoth & Penuel, refuse them food.(8:4-9)

 

 

Zeba & Zalmunna  (kings) captured.

 

 

Son refuses to kill them so Gideon does. (8:18-21)

 

 

Gideon refuses to rule. (8:22-28) 

 

 

Ephod made by Gideon becomes snare. (8:27)

 

 

40 years rest. (8:28)

 

 

Gideon’s family (8:29-32)

 

 

Return to Baal worship.(8:33)

9:

Abimelech

Abimelech, Gideon’s concubine’s son, kill’s father’s 70 sons, except for Jotham. (9:1-6)

 

 

Jotham’s “bramble” parable on Mt Gerizim.(9:7-21)

 

 

Abimelech oppressive king for 3 years.(9:22-25)

 

 

Gaal, son of Ebed destroyed (9:26-40)

 

 

Shechem destroyed and salted.(9:41-45) 

 

 

Tower burned with 1000 people. (9:46-49)

 

 

Woman’s Millstone kills Abimelech at Thebez (50-57)

10:

#6. Tola

Tola (of Issachar) from Ephraim hills,

 

 

Judged 23 years. (10:1-2)

 

#7. Jair

Jair, Gileadite, 30 sons, 30 asses, 30 cities.

 

 

Judges 22 years. (10:3:5)

 

 

 

F.    Ammonites beyond Jordan and Philistines

 

 

Israel vexed 18 years. (10:6-18)

11:

#8 .Jephthah

Jephthah (Rejected son of Harlot) 

 

 

Defeats Ammonites.(11:1-33)

 

 

Hasty vow consequences.(11:34-40)

12:

 

Ephraim’s arrogance and defeat.(12:1-6)

 

 

 (“Shibboleth”) Judged 6 years.(12:7)

 

#9. Ibzan

 Ibzan (of Bethlehem) has 30 sons & 30 daughters.

 

 

Judged 7 years (12:8-10).

 

#10 .Elon

 Elon (of Zebulun) Judged 10 years. (12:11,12)

 

#11. Abdon

Abdon (the Pirathonite) (40 sons, 30 grandsons, 70 asses)

 

 

Judged 8 years.(12:13-15)

 

13:

 

G.   Philistine resurgence.(13:1)

 

#12. Samson

Samson (of Dan) birth announced by angel.(13:2-7)

 

 

Angel appears again (Nazarite).(13:8-14)

 

 

Offering. Angel ascends in fire. (13:15-20)

 

 

Samson’s birth and childhood.(13:21-25)

14:

Wife

Samson wants Philistine wife. (14:1-4)

 

 

Lion and honey. (14:5-9)

 

 

Riddle. (14:10-14)

 

 

Wife begs for his riddle (14:15-18)

 

 

Smote 30 men for garments. (14:19)

 

 

Wife given to best man.(14:20--15:4)

15:

Vengeance

300 foxes with tails tied on fire in grain.(14:5)

 

 

Wife & father burnt. (14:6)

 

 

Samson smote them “hip and thigh.” (14:7,8) 

 

 

Hides in Rock of Etam. (15:8) 

 

 

Judah forced to bind him.(15:9-13)

 

 

1,000 killed with jawbone of an ass.(15:14-16)

 

 

Thirst quenched by water from Lehi (“Jawbone”).

 

 

Judged 20 years. (15:20)

16:

 

Harlot. Gates carried to mountain top.(16:1-3)

 

Delilah

Delilah clips Sampson.(16:4-22)

 

 

His four steps to ruin:

 

 

1. Withes 2. Ropes 3. Weave 7 locks 4. Cut hair

 

 

Samson’s humiliation (16:23-27)

 

 

“Sin is binding, blinding, grinding”

 

 

Sampson brings down the house. (16:28-31)

 

17:

Micah

APPENDIX I.  Micah, of Ephraim, makes an image.(17:1-6) 

 

 

Gets a Levite for his priest. (17:7-13)

18:

Danites

Five Danite spies looking for land (18:1-6)

 

 

Spies bring their people (18:1-6)

 

 

They steal Micah’s images.(18:14-20)

 

 

Micah and neighbors intimidated.(18:21-26)  

 

 

Danites establish pagan worship.(18:27-31)

 

19:

Concubine

APPENDIX II. Levite of Ephraim goes to concubine’s house.

 

 

On way home they stay in Gibeah (19:10-21)

 

 

Benjamin homosexuals demand him.(19:22-24)

 

 

Concubine raped and murdered. (19:25-26)

 

 

She is Cut into 12 pieces and sent through Israel. (19:27-30)

20:

Benjamites

Benjamin men destroyed by Israel.(20:1-48)   

21:

Wives

Oath not to give wives to Benjamin.(21:1-7)

 

 

Wives for Benjamites taken from Jabesh-gilead which had not been present. (21:8-15)

 

 

Kidnapped wives from dancing girls at Shiloh.(21:16-25)